Vauxhall

Vauxhall Insignia (2011)

42,873 real MOT outcomes analysed • 78.3% first-time pass rate

2011 Vauxhall Insignia

CarHunch analysed 42,873 real MOT records for the 2011 Vauxhall Insignia. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2011 Vauxhall Insignia's first-time pass rate of 78.3% sits just below the UK average of 80%, which is a modest concern—but the real red flag is that 44.1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect flagged at some point, well above what you'd want to see. Diesel and petrol variants perform almost identically (78.4% vs 77.8%), so fuel choice won't solve the reliability question here.

These cars are averaging around 85,400 miles for their age, which is typical, but they're accumulating an average of 2.88 failures and 16.9 advisories per MOT cycle—suggesting wear items and minor faults are mounting steadily. Before buying, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on brakes, suspension, and cooling systems, since those represent the bulk of repeat failures on this generation.

The 2011 Vauxhall Insignia has a decent first-time pass rate (78.3%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.
First-time pass
78.3%
UK average ~80%
Around average
Dangerous (ever)
44.1%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
2.88
Over 12.4 tests on record
High
Typical mileage
85k
Middle half: 68k–105k
For context
🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.
🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 16.9 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.
🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 42,873 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 42,873 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 53.2%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …
Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.
Other issues 51.6%
Oil leak, but not excessive · Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened · …
Brake wear 43.1%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.
Suspension & steering 20.8%
Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken · Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken
Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2011.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 42,873 Vauxhall Insignia cars.

UK

Before you buy a 2011 Vauxhall Insignia

Based on MOT data from 42,873 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 44.1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
    Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
  • 🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection ClickMechanic
  • 📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (83%) 35,789 78.4% 2.83
Petrol (16%) 7,073 77.8% 3.11

Colour Breakdown

Based on 291,872 Vauxhall Insignia vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 26.6%
77,770
Silver 24.1%
70,311
Grey 19.9%
57,954
White 13%
38,041
Blue 8%
23,258
Red 5.4%
15,748
Green 2%
5,839
Brown 1%
2,848
Maroon 0%
29
Purple 0%
27
Beige 0%
26
Gold 0%
21

Mileage Distribution

Most 2011 Vauxhall Insignia vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

85,413
typical
68,406
low mileage
105,363
high mileage

Half of all 2011 Vauxhall Insignia vehicles fall between 68,406 and 105,363 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
Under 68,406 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.
68,406–105,363 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2011 Vauxhall Insignias sit.
Over 142,240 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2011 Vauxhall Insignia — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 42% of 2011 Vauxhall Insignias are still active.

Numbers are declining — 17,316 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (42% of peak).

41,428 17,316 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

12.4
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
2.88
Avg failures per vehicle
16.9
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Vauxhall Insignia: All Insignia years → Which year to buy? →
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Watch for defects — worth knowing